Plattsburgh  Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, chief of the department of neurology at MassGeneral, thinks a cure for ALS is near.

Now is the time to invest in neuroscience, she said.

“We are very, very close.”

Photo by Stephen Bartlett

Walk of Hope participants.

She joined more than 700 more people from the North Country and beyond who raised more than $100,000 for the ALS Raising Hope Foundation at the inaugural Walk of Hope, Walk of 1,000 Umbrellas and Spring Festival. Participants donned blue shirts and carried white and blue umbrellas for the walk that started at Trinity Park. The event was held to raise awareness and help find a cure for degenerative neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia and ALSO, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Roger and Darlene Long of Peru started the foundation.

Mr. Long was diagnosed with ALS after losing his coordination in 2009 and growing weaker as doctors worked to discover why he was facing such difficulties.

Today, he can only talk and move a few fingers, but his spirits are high as he fights to raise awareness and money and help others struggling with degenerative neurological disorders.

“It’s overwhelming, humbling and comforting,” Mrs. Long said of the turnout at Trinity Park event, which also featured, entertainment, food and services such as massages and more. “I think all of us who lost someone to one of these diseases feels a sense of unity and community. This just reaffirms the wonderful community we live in.”

Mrs. Long said the money raised will go toward research pertaining to all such diseases.

Photo by Keith Lobdell

“Together we can make a difference.”

For her part, Cudkowicz said some of the money raised provides funds to conduct high risk studies that should provide breakthroughs.

“This gives me the shivers,” she said, standing near Mr. Long. “This is America here. This is the community coming out.”